About

Math Circles bring pre-college students together with mathematically passionate instructors in an informal setting to work on interesting problems or topics encouraging a sense of discovery and excitement about mathematics.
An instructor writes mathematics formulas on a green chalkboard.

A math circle is a social structure where participants engage in the depths and intricacies of mathematical thinking, propagate the culture of doing mathematics, and create knowledge. To reach these goals, participants partake in problem-solving, mathematical modeling, the practice of art, and philosophical discourse. Some circles involve competition, others do not; all promote camaraderie.

National Association of Math Circles Wiki

History

From Eastern Europe to Stanford University

The Math Circle movement migrated from Eastern Europe to the United States in the 1990s. Today, more than 180 Math Circle programs operate across the country. Math Circles vary greatly in their style and  the students they serve, but they share common goals of bringing mathematicians together with students to expose them to mathematical reasoning and problem solving beyond that normally encountered in traditional school classes.

Stanford Math Circles were founded in 2005. For the past 15 years,  For the past 19 years, we have engaged with more than two thousand pre-collegiate students. The Stanford Math Circle is jointly sponsored by Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies and the Stanford University Department of Mathematics

Founders & Staff

Portrait of Ted Alper

Ted Alper

Director, Stanford Math Circle

Sara Mumolo

Sara Mumolo

Director, Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies

TannerStrong

Tanner Strong

Assistant Director of Academic Operations

Mariah Poitier

Mariah Poitier

Student Services Coordinator

Rafe Mazzeo

Rafe Mazzeo

Faculty Director, Pre-Collegiate Studies and Professor, Mathematics

Portrait of Ravi Vakil.

Ravi Vakil

Faculty Advisor

Instructors

Dilip Barman

Dilip Barman

Stanford Math Circle, Elementary Instructor

Yul Inn

Yul Inn

Stanford Math Circle, Middle Instructor

mason_klepp

Mason Klepp

Stanford Math Circle, Elementary Instructor

Peter Koroteev

Peter Koroteev

Stanford Math Circle, Elementary Instructor

Boris Kruk

Boris Kruk

Stanford Math Circle, Middle Instructor

Maria Nemirovskaya

Maria Nemirovskaya

Stanford Math Circle, Elementary Instructor

Elena Pavlovskaia

Elena Pavlovskaia

Stanford Math Circle, Middle Instructor

Jack Rosenberg

Jack Rosenberg

Stanford Math Circle, Elementary Instructor

Anne Shore

Anne Shor

Stanford Math Circle, Middle Instructor